MLS And Nick GAS Keep Winning Team Intact

NEW YORK (Monday, June 16, 2003) – Major League Soccer and Nickelodeon GAS: Games and Sports for Kids (GAS) announced today a renewed partnership that combines GAS’ popular kids’ programming with the League’s growing appeal to children around the country. Since first uniting back in 1999, MLS and Nick GAS have worked together on a variety of initiatives designed to expand and entertain the audiences of both organizations.

“This is a partnership that has served both organizations effectively since the very beginning,” said MLS Executive Vice President Mark Noonan. “Nick GAS has played an important role in helping Major League Soccer inform thousands of children about the terrific personalities and exciting action on display in MLS stadiums every weekend.”

"We're thrilled to be continuing our relationship with Major League Soccer," said Mark Offitzer, VP and General Manager of Nick GAS.  "Together, we continue to build a strategic relationship, one that benefits both GAS and MLS, but most importantly our kid audience."

Continuing its support of Major League Soccer’s grassroots efforts, Nick GAS will cover the Pepsi MLS Dribble, Pass & Score (DPS) National Finals in its entirety, as kids from around the country compete in the largest youth soccer skills competition in the U.S. Nick GAS will present season-long coverage of the MLS DPS competition, including the DPS National Finals during MLS Cup 2003 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

Since 1999, Nick GAS has sponsored the "MLS Play of the Year" award which is handed out annually at the League’s Gala Awards Ceremony. The honor will be given to the player judged by Nick GAS viewers to have completed the season’s most amazing play. New England’s Taylor Twellman was the recipient of last year’s award, after Nick GAS viewers judged his spectacular bicycle kick to be the season’s most outstanding individual effort.

As the season winds down, kids will vote online for their favorite play at www.nick.com/gas in the process entering a special MLS Sweepstakes for Nick GAS viewers. Past sweepstakes winners have earned trips to the MLS Cup or the opportunity to present the Nick GAS Play of the Year trophy at the MLS Awards Gala.

About Nickelodeon and Nickelodeon GAS
Nickelodeon GAS: Games and Sports for Kids launched March 1, 1999 as a digital network and features interactive on-air and online programming dedicated exclusively to all the games and sports kids love to play.

Nickelodeon, now in its 24th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 86 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than seven consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.